Diet and climate change.

Abstract

Diet plays a significant role in shaping climate change, as food production accounts for a large proportion of global greenhouse gas emissions. Animal farming, particularly beef farming, generates a high carbon and water footprint, requiring large amounts of feed, energy, and water. In contrast, a diet based on plant-based products - such as vegetables, fruits, legumes, and whole grains - is much less burdensome on the environment. In response to these challenges, experts from EAT-Lancet have proposed a so-called planetary diet that combines health and climate goals. It involves reducing meat and sugar consumption by half and increasing the share of plant-based products in the daily menu. The latest available literature in this field was analyzed and a standard diet was compared with a planetary diet in order to estimate the potential reduction in greenhouse gas emissions resulting from changes in dietary patterns. Climate change undoubtedly affects food production, availability, nutritional quality, and microbiological safety. Rising temperatures, irregular rainfall, and extreme weather events lead to reduced yields and contribute to more frequent malnutrition among humans. An integrated approach to food and climate policy is needed, based on sound scientific evidence, supporting both human health and the ecological stability of the planet.